Behcet's Syndrome

Did you get a pustule at your blood draw site? Consider Behcet’s Syndrome.

The original description of Behçet’s syndrome included recurring genital and oral ulcerations and relapsing uveitis. This disease is also associated with cutaneous hypersensitivity; 60%–70% of patients will develop a sterile pustule with an erythematous margin within 48 hours of an aseptic needle prick. It is more common in Japan, Korea, and the Eastern Mediterranean area, and affects primarily young adults. The …

Be Fruitful Book

Review: “Be Fruitful” book on fertility by Victoria Maizes MD

Book Review: “Be Fruitful: The Essential Guide to Maximizing Fertility and Giving Birth to a Healthy Child,” by Victoria Maizes MD of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine. Many challenges face parents wishing to successfully conceive and give birth to a healthy child today. Drawing on her expertise in integrative medicine, Dr. Victoria Maizes integrates science with traditional wisdom to …

Coronavirus

Updated: Novel respiratory coronavirus identified in travelers to Middle Eastern countries #travelmedicine

Public Health Agency of Canada: February 15, 2013 US Centers for Disease Control: March 7, 2013 Update: A total of 14 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection have been identified, with 8 deaths. There seems to be an association with recent travel to the Arabian Peninsula (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan) and influenza A (H1N1) co-infection. Patients presented with lower respiratory infections. …

Stephen Brill

Bitter Pill: Why Medical Bills are Crushing Us. Investigative reporting at its best from Stephen Brill. #costsofcare

Required reading for everyone who lives in the United States, or who is thinking about doing so: Stephen Brill delivered an amazing piece of investigative journalism last week on the U.S. health care system in Time Magazine. Hopefully everyone will read it before they develop a serious illness, but regardless it lays bare some of the reasons why the health care …

Celiac Pathology

How can I find out if I have celiac disease?

I often see patients who are concerned about gluten sensitivity or celiac disease. Indeed, that is a common problem and many people do feel better if they removed processed foods, and gluten in particular, from their diet. The problem is that it matters how you go about investigating your body’s response to gluten. What is celiac disease? Celiac disease is …